22nd October 2008 - Drill Hall Library - Universities at Medway

Drill Hall Library User Group
Drill Hall Library Training Room
Wednesday 22 nd October 2008
1-3.00pm
Present: David Israel, University of Greenwich(Chair) (DI)
Virginia Malone, Drill Hall Library (VM)
Alison Edwards, Medway School of Pharmacy (AE)
Gavin Carver, University of Kent (GC)
Fiona Gray, Canterbury Christ Church University (FG)
Georgina Gosden, Canterbury Christ Church University (GG)
Lesley Phippen, University of Kent (LP)
Mary Leonidou, Mid-Kent (MR) [In attendance for Pat Lowndes]
Ann Murphy, University of Greenwich (AM)
Carole Pickaver, University of Kent (CP)
Jatindar Rangi, Canterbury Christ Church University (JR)
Rebecca Davison, Student University of Kent (RD)
John Saunders, Student University of Kent (JS)
Salman Rameez, Student Medway School of Pharmacy (SR)
Shariff Maajar, Student Medway School of Pharmacy (MS)
Karen Worden, Drill Hall Library (KW)
Apologies: Pete Ryan (PR) CCCU, Dominic Ward CCCU, Jae Fowler CCCU, Patrick Moynagh
(Student MSOP) Pat Lowndes MKC, John Sotillo Kent, Sam Thornton Kent, Maureen Castens (MEC)
Greenwich, Sarah Root (SLR)Drill Hall, Linda Simon (LKS)Drill Hall
1. Membership
New members welcomed.
2. Minutes of the last meeting 28 th May 2008
Following amendments noted:
Ann Murphy had attended the meeting on the 28 th May
Item 8. AOB correction: “study loans from 4 hour to 24 hour loans” to be corrected to
“Study loans from 4 hour to overnight loan”.
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3. Matters Arising
Item 5. Feedback and comments from the group
Urban Planning course – University of Greenwich - VM reported that a budget had been
made available from the first of August, a list of texts provided and purchases for the
Urban Planning courses had been made this had been received positively by the School.
Registry issues were reported for certain postgraduate groups especially for those who
commenced their studies later in the academic year, e.g. system was closing their
accounts in June. (DI) (AE) Solutions had been found but further investigation was
recommended.
Action: MEC
Item 8. AOB
Study Loans were proving useful for Pharmacy students (AE, SR, MS) and preferred to
“Reference” copies. Study Loans would be available for overnight loan within the next
few weeks. VM reported that in 2009/10 there would be some changes to the loan
classification in the Drill Hall Library, e.g. Short Loans to be relabelled One Week Loan,
Study Loan to be relabelled Short Loan.
4. Drill Hall Library Report
VM presented a report to the committee.
Library Space & Stock
Relocation of the Law Collection and the movement of stock to accommodate the
expansion of the book collection were positively received by academic staff and
students (LP, JS). Additional furniture, new book displays, library stands for guides and
DVDS, CDS etc had been purchased over the summer. VM suggested the need to
finance a “Social Collection” to purchase films (DVDs) and music (CDs). Discussion
whether this would be best purchased from university funding or from UMSA. (CP)
Action: VM to discuss with UMSA
New Developments for the Coming Year
VM advised that the ASLs and IT team would be facilitating “drop-in” library and IT
training within the vicinity of the 2 nd Mezzanine using the newly purchased lap tops and
Plasma screen. The new round tables was proving popular with students. For working
in quiet groups and noise did not seem to be an issue. DI raised the issue of engineering
software and the specific problems of licensing, compatibility issues etc. Discussion
took place about how the lap tops would be used and what software would be available
(Microsoft office only). VM, CP, AM and PR were exploring Drill Hall Space and how the
Drill hall could develop to meet the future needs of the student population on the
Medway Campus which would include more research and postgraduates as the campus
developed.
Credit Card Machines were still being considered for the counter. DI asked if online
payments had been investigated using PayPal, discussion took place about the costs of
involving external companies to administer this area (DI, FG, AM) and need to have
procedures that are compatible for the 3 universities (CP) were highlighted. VM said
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that she hoped card payments would lessen the amount of time staff spent handling
cash and banking.
Production of new handouts and Plasma Screen enhancements had been welcomed.
Linda Simon had provided a write up of the new shared desk top and reported that the
collaboration of staff across the Universities at Medway on the Shared Desk Top was an
example of good practice.
Improvements to signage, additional printers and the work done by the IT team would
help to reduce problems with printing.
Opening Hours
Although some universities have offered 24/7 access this would be unlikely in Medway.
VM reported that the Drill Hall Library was investigating extended opening hours for
2009 focusing on the months March, April and May opening until twelve o clock
midnight. Discussions had taken place with UMSA and there are plans to discuss this
with representatives from Facilities Management, Transport and Catering staff. AE
reported the travel issues for a large number of pharmacy students who live nearer
London and unable to travel on university transport after 6pm. DI reported that the
University of Greenwich will be changing to a new timetabling arrangement in 2009/10
in which some programmes may be engaged in teaching up to 9pm. Initially envisaged
in Maritime Greenwich, but this will be expected on other campuses in the future so
could affect Medway.
VM reported that changes to Opening Hours envisaged would require staffing provision
for an extra 35 hours/week.
Statistics
Issues raised regarding intersite loans from Kent and CCCU would be discussed with
Managers to see where improvements could be made. GC asked if Templeman books
on loan could be discharged at the Drill Hall Library instead of waiting until returns are
made at Canterbury. CP reported that the Library service at UoK did allow for a time
delay for students returning books via the Drill Hall Library drop-off box so no fines
should be involved. FG and GG asked if the Library service at CCCU would also consider
introducing a time delay. GG reported that Year 3 students on the Early Childhood
Studies programme were especially making use of drop-off box facility and experiencing
difficulties with fines for late return of books. Some tutors were volunteering to take
books back to Canterbury on behalf of Medway students (FG,GG).
Action: VM to discuss with PR
Self-service statistics did show an improvement but VM highlighted the need for greater
reliance on this by all students at Medway. DI suggested Staff reductions at the counter
might help and perhaps have some periods when there were no staff there so people
would be forced to use self service. VM to investigate CP reported that in UoK there
was between 70-80% issues using self-service facilities.
Student Feedback
Students were invited by DI to raise any issues:
SR reported that they welcomed the extension of opening hours being considered but
highlighted the desire to see this more commonplace throughout the year. They
highlighted the need for pharmacy students to submit assignments, tests throughout
their programme. They had welcomed the pilot of Sunday opening and asked if the
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extension of hours in March – May 2009 may be regarded as a Pilot also. Discussion
about the impact extended opening hours might have for the use of computing lab
space in cases where specialist software is not available in the Drill Hall Library. DI
reported problems with the new image for engineering software installed in labs. CP
reminded students that the extension of opening hours is a wider issue than just
keeping a building open longer. At UoK there is a network of staff supporting the
extended opening hours at the Templeman Library.
JS asked about the use of the developments planned for the space under the 2 nd
Mezzanine. VM reported that these developments informal workshops and
demonstrations are in the early planning stages and would be promoted by Librarians
and advertised on the web pages or Plasma screens once they had been agreed. Any
problems that might arise with noise would have to be monitored. It was hoped to
address learning needs of students who might not attend advertised library and IT
sessions for whatever reason.
MS raised issues about the absence of interactive CDs from books and if the library
could look into keeping CDs more securely with books. DI stated that currently he kept
the relevant CDs from engineering book stock in the dept and would lend this out
separately to students on request. DI stated that this was a School issue and that AE
should discuss this with the Library the problems of security of CDs.
Action: AE and VM to discuss with Subject Librarian. MS to refer book details to VM
5. Membership
Action: VM to defer this agenda item to meeting when MEC, JS and PR present
6. A.O.B
AE referred to comments made in the ILS Update, Greenwich about the coverage of the
Wireless Network on the Medway Campus . The suggestion that there was 90% coverage
was regarded as misleading by DI and AE, but AM stated that there were complications
with the building infrastructure and it was hoped that access was secure in most of the
reception areas if not in individual offices.
Action: DI to discuss with AB
Date of next meeting
Wednesday 28 th January 2009
KW 22 st October 2008
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